9 July 2009
Norovirus outbreak aboard the Marco Polo
Statement from London Port Health Authority at the City of
London Corporation and the North East and North Central London
Health Protection Unit - 9 July 2009
London Port Health Authority is continuing to investigate the
circumstances relating to illness aboard the cruise vessel, Marco
Polo. The Authority was not informed of any illness aboard the
vessel prior to it calling at Tilbury on Saturday 4 July. However,
following a request to the ship’s agent to explain why no such
notification had been received, the Authority has now been sent a
document stating that 31 passengers and two crew members were
suffering from gastro-intestinal illness, prior to the ship calling
at Tilbury. The first symptoms are stated to have occurred on the
23 June, with more passengers becoming ill subsequently, in
particular, in early July.
Masters of ships who have any cases of suspect infectious
disease are required to notify the Port Health Authority at least
four hours - and not more than 12 hours - before arriving in port.
This can be done via radio message, email, telephone or by fax. The
Authority has a 24-hour standby service to ensure that Port Health
Officers and Boarding Medical Doctors are always available.
London Port Health Authority has been advised that the ship will
return to Tilbury on Saturday 11 July. The Authority and the Health
Protection Agency will be visiting the vessel on arrival at
Tilbury, and will be working with the cruise line to ensure that
prior to the next voyage, all the necessary precautions are taken
to minimise the risk of infection to passengers due to board the
vessel. A detailed assessment of the vessel will be taken before
agreeing that the next cruise can proceed.
Jon Averns, London Port Health Authority Director, said:
"Masters of ships are required to notify us of any suspected
infectious diseases aboard a ship, prior to it arriving in London -
and this is a matter that we take very seriously. Consequently, we
will investigate the circumstances relating to the Marco Polo very
thoroughly, and we will take appropriate action accordingly."
Outbreaks of norovirus are more common during the winter months
and usually tend to affect people in semi-closed environments where
large numbers of people congregate for periods of several days (for
example, hospitals, residential and nursing homes and schools).
Norovirus infection, sometimes more commonly called the ‘winter
vomiting disease’, is the most common cause of infectious
gastroenteritis and affects approximately 600,000 to 1 million
people in the UK each year. Symptoms include: nausea (feeling
sick); sudden onset of vomiting (often sudden and projectile);
diarrhoea; stomach pains/cramps; and fever.
Dr Deborah Turbitt, Director at the North East and North Central
London Health Protection Unit, said: "We are working closely with
our port health authority colleagues to prepare for the arrival of
this vessel and to help ensure passengers are supported
appropriately when they disembark the ship. Norovirus can be very
unpleasant, but most people make a full recovery within one or two
days. It is important that people with diarrhoea and vomiting drink
plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and let the illness run its
course."
Ends
For further information:
Andrew
Buckingham, Press Officer, City of London Corporation, 020 7332
1452 or mob: 07795 333 060; email
andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Katherine Lewis, Regional Communications Manager, Health
Protection Agency - London Region, 020 7759 2824, email
katherine.lewis@hpa.org.uk (out
of hours: 020 8200 4400) ~
More information about Winter Vomiting Disease can be found on the
Health Protection Agency website at www.hpa.org.uk
Further information regarding the requirement to notify the Port
Health Authority of any suspected infectious disease, or death
onboard a vessel other than by accident, may be found on the City
of London website
(www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/porthealth) at
Infectious Diseases
Notes for Editors:
The City of London Corporation, which provides local government
services for the ‘Square Mile’, the financial and commercial heart
of Britain, works nationally and internationally to maintain and
enhance the City as a world-leading international financial and
business centre. Its other special responsibilities and services to
London and the wider UK include the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge,
the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 10,000 acres of open
space including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest, three wholesale
food markets, two inner-London City Academies, the City Bridge
Trust and acting as London’s Port Health Authority. The Lord Mayor
of the City of London (currently Ian Luder) works extensively at
home and abroad to promote the City.